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Category Archives: October 2013

Exterior Shutters have been used for centuries to provide light control,
ventilation, and protection from the elements. Please join us for a discussion on the historic uses of exterior shutters along with the varied design and structural components of today’s exterior shutters. You will learn how modern materials and manufacturing can enhance a historic shutter application. A discussion on how Coastal Building Codes can determine which shutter material is properly suited for your project location will also be covered.

The one hour presentation begins at 3:00 pm ET. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register.

The AIBD Colorado Society completed it’s Fall Conference in Colorado Springs. We had great member participation which included many friends and guests of the Colorado Society. Our Conference kicked off with a Thursday afternoon volunteer event at the Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity. We went to a residential development located in the NE part of Colorado Springs. Our job for Thursday afternoon was to install siding on a 5 bedroom residential home being built for a family in need with lots of children. During our afternoon event we heard stories from Habitat about the families living in the community we were working at. At times, many of the families which have already moved in to their homes would bring out home-made lunches and dinners to the working volunteers in appreciation to the work being accomplished for them and their families. Even the ones who were waiting for their homes to be built would visit the sites and literally hug up the volunteers in appreciation. It was a very close family orientated community worth visiting again.

The next day we concluded our Conference with a presentation by AIBD member Larry Gilland with an introduction to the new Rocky Mountain Plan Company. A plan book company headed up by various designers in Colorado, including AIBD members Bernie Kern and Heather Attardo. In the afternoon we went to work with our Society meeting addressing issues to improve our Society and welcoming our two new members who were present at the event, Robert Maixner and Michael Payne.

On Friday, a public comment submitted by Mike Fischer on behalf of AIBD received a more than two-thirds positive vote by the ICC assembly present at the 2015 IRC Final Action Hearing in Atlantic City, NJ. The motion by Fischer Restores the previously allowed ceiling condition that allowed beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions in basements containing habitable space.

Click the image to view the entire RB108 public comment.

During the past several code cycles, numerous changes to the ceiling height and support beam projection height for habitable spaces in basements created an issue when homes built to the previous standards included unfinished basements at heights that would allow the conversion to habitable space. Once the code changes, these spaces no longer fit the dimensions, and the option to convert this “future finished basement” evaporated. Our 2015 IRC proposal reinstated the option to accommodate beams and girders in basements containing habitable spaces. “With support and testimony from NAHB and several code officials, we were able to include a common sense change that may help people with existing homes turn unused space into functional areas.” reported Whit Peterson, AIBD General Manager.

To view a handout distributed at the Final Action Hearing that explains the proposal in detail, CLICK HERE.

AIBD executives and members will be attending this week’s National Association of Home Builders’ Fall Board Meetings in Colorado Springs, CO. AIBD has representation on the CAPS Board of Governors, the NAHB Design Committee and the Construction Codes and Standards Committee. In addition, AIBD partners with the Best of American Living Awards on a live design competition presented during the International Building Show.